Samuel f



(No Model.)

S. F. ALLEN. MECHANISM FOR PLACING TORPEDOBS 0N RAILWAY TRACKS. No. 286,249 Patented OCt. 9, 1883.

WITNESSESI INVENTQR @flflofiijy M 3% %M ,lj/ wwmwa ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO THOMAS FREEMAN AN JAMES S. TOPPAN, OF SAME PLACE.

MECHANISM FOR PLACING TORPEDOES ON RAILWAY-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,249, dated October 9, .1883.

Application filed June 14,1883. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LSAMUEL F. ALLEN, of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Placing Torpedoes on Railway-Tracks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, IO forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for placing signal-torpedoes on the rail from a train of cars in motion; and it consists, first, of a wheel having annular flanges which embrace both sides of the rail when in the act of placing the torpedoes, the tread or periphery of said wheel being also provided with a number of pockets placed at intervals in the circumference of the tread for the reception of the torpedoes preparatory for use second,

of a forked standard, providing suitable bearings for the support and rotation of the torpedo-wheel; and, finally, of means for removably supporting the device with relation to 2 5 the car on which. the same is used, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in detail.

Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying my improved features, showing the manner of supporting the same in connection with the car structure. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the torpedowheel, and Fig. 4 a side clevation of the same. I Referring to the drawings, A represents a 3 5 wheel, which may be of any desired diameter,

the periphery or tread of the wheel being provided on either side with the flanges a a, so

as to embrace both sides of the rail B and prevent a lateral. displacement of the wheel from 0 either side when placing the torpedoes in position on the rail, as shown in, Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The wheel is provided with the spokes A and the hub A The rim or tread of the wheel is provided with the recessed pockets B B B, placed at regular intervals with reference to each other,

and are of a shape corresponding to the form and dimensions ofthe torpedo a These pockcts are provided with a rubber lining or cushion, a, which is so arranged as to retain the torpedo loosely in place until the spring-arms b I), attached to the torpedo, clamp each side of the rail, when the same is released from the pocket and is retained in the required position on the top of the rail, to be exploded by the following train. The rubber or elastic cushion also provides a soft yielding seat for the torpedo, and prevents the same from be ing exploded by the operator when using the device. Any elastic substance other than rubher, or a suitable spring, may be used to detachably retain and cushion the torpedoes with relation to the pocketreceptacles.

The torpedo-wheel is supported and journaled between the lowerv forked ends, If I), of the standard D, the upper end being provided with the handle I). The wheel rotates on a suitable shaft, b passing through the hub of the same, the ends of the shaft having bearings in the lower bifurcated ends of the stand ard D, as shown in Fig, 2 of the drawings.

The two triangular-shaped brackets D D" are permanently secured to the under side of the platform-timbers, entering into the structure of the car, and project downward there from, the lower ends terminating in the hooks d d, which receive the guide-pins E E, proj ecting outward from the shoulders d d of the standard D, thereby supporting the torpedo mechanism and preventing a lateral tipping of the top of the wheel.

The spiral spring F, placed in each of the hook ends (I (1, serves as a rest for the pins E E, for the purpose of supporting the wheel in the brackets a little above the rail, and 8 5 prevents the wheel from having frictional con tact with the rail before the operator is ready to drop the torpedoes.

\Vhen the time arrives for depositing the torpedoes, the wheel is brought down onto the 0 rail by a pressure on the upper end of the standard, and the wheel commences to revolve by reason of the contact with the rail, and the torpedoes are withdrawn from the pockets and retained in the required position by means 9 5 of the spring clampingarms attached to the same. lVhen the pressure on the upper end of the standard is relaxed, the wheel is auto matically raised up from contact with the rail by reason of the springs F, but is still sup- 10o ported in the hook ends of the brackets.

The torpedo-wheel is only placed in position in the brackets attached to the under side e of the platform when required for use, after which -it is returned to some suitablestoringplace in the car, and the pockets again recharged for instant use.

The construction and arrangement readily permits of the device being easily and conveniently removed from or replaced in a working position.

The spring clamping-arms or other metallic devices that are attached to and form a part of the torpedo may be magnetized for the purpose of causing the same to adhere more readily and positively to the rail, and thereby lessen the danger of the torpedo from being accidentally displaced before it is exploded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. The torpedo-wheel A, provided with one or more recessed pockets arranged in the circumference of the tread, as described, and having the flanges a a for the purpose of embracing both sides of the rail and preventing a lateral displacement of the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the wheel A and the pockets B B B, of the elastic lining or cushion a andthe torpedo a whereby the torpedo is loosely retained in the pockets and prevented from exploding while being placed on the track, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a torpedo-wheel,

brackets D D permanently attached to the car structure, and provided with the lower hook ends, cl (1, of the spring or springs F, the

standard D, provided with the lateral projecting pins'E E, and the wheel A, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

. SAMUEL F. ALLEN.

WVitnesses:

' G. F. J oNEs,

U. 'SrAnwoon. 

